Location: Border between Georgia and Russia. Time: 5:00AM. Date: 29TH July 2008.
The weather was recorded as calm and clear skies. A squad of 7 led by one captain had been in charge of data filing and correspondence within the base located on the outskirts of Lenetekhi.
Their names were listed, but they were mainly irrelevant to the records they left behind on that day.
At 5:00AM a push had been reported along the border by enemy forces. Patrol watch had called in for immediate response and with quick procession, suppression units were released from Lenetekhi.
Among the convoy following behind the suppression units was the squad in charge of data filing and correspondence.
Their duty wasn't really official, and they were just as much combatants as any other soldier in the army, but following directives from General David Tserekeli they were bestowed their current duties.
An army could be wiped out. Information on how they had been wiped out was crucial, so they just actively relayed all information about events occurring on the battlefield.
The suppression units reached the border around 6:00AM.
A slow approach made fear quickly spread over whether the border guard would hold. Messages had ceased being actively relayed and units sped forth as fast as they could. But once they reached, every single soldier couldn't help but frown deeply.
"There's nothing here."
Surprisingly, within the official records, these very words were written down by the soldier in charge of recording. Such was the bizarreness of the scene before them.
The border was just as it normally should be. Grasslands and mountain rises. A testament to the beauty of their own country.
But there was something out of place.
It glowed brighter than the sun. It took a stationary place in the center of the darkened sky. And it seemed to glare down unto the soldiers as they filed deeper and deeper into the border territory.
"Altitude of flying object unconfirmed nor immediate danger threat. Attempts to have it identified proved impossible due to sheer distance."
Such a suspicious object was, of course, dangerous to leave be and the records went into extensive detail up until a few more notes down.
"The object appears to be lowering altitude."
A soldier trained his sights onto it and continuously described the object as it slowly lowered altitude.
The exchange between the soldier recording and the one observing and relaying information was as such.
"It's... humanoid in appearance."
"Really?"
"Yes. Female with long hair that's similar to gold. And are those... rabbit ears?"
"What?"
The exchange, however, ended once the object suddenly glowed brighter.
Brighter than the sun in the dark sky. The very stars disappeared, and the light conquered all.
"The object... has multiplied!?!"
The records stated something truly bizarre. But this was where they came to an end with the following quick sporadic notes. Emotion of fear conveyed through the writing.
"Red. It was as sudden as a whip crack and horrifying as the devil. One moment we were looking towards the snow-capped mountain and the next everything was red and burning. The mountain, as well as the valley and border, were all levelled at once. Suppression units 3 through 9 have all been decimated. It was a complete loss."
The soldier stopped writing there and instead picked up a voice recording device on his person.
His voice was heavily accented and sporadic, as if short of breath.
"This is lieutenant Georgios of the Magic Frontal Unit. I have been heavily injured and suffering rapid blood loss and testify to be the last remaining soldier of all units sent to the border from Lenetekhi... Everyone's dead."
There was a brief pause.
"Cause was a flying humanoid object emitting brilliant gold light. A force, I'd say, equivalent to a bomb, has decimated everything within an unidentifiable range."
...
"Requesting immediate caution against the border..."
And thus the recording came to its conclusion. But just as it ended, a resounding 'boom' was heard.
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Location: Kutaisi. Time: 11:35AM. Date: 8th August 2008.
Alyza placed down the video recorder onto the coffee table and started to contemplate what she heard.
Some ways off, in the kitchen, Anne Bonny was smiling like a child as she downed a bottle of wine that had been left behind in the pantry by the previous owner of the flat.
Mary was standing by her side like a guardian to make sure she didn't accidentally destroy something.
Positioned next to Alyza was a solitary soldier from the Georgian Army, his youthful face revealing a nervous demeanor.
'Is this what they're all like...' He was thinking.
Alyza let out a sigh as she picked up the next file beside the one she had just read. It contained photos taken during the incident, and they were properly decorated with date and time stamps.
In the third photo, Alyza came across the golden star in the night sky mentioned in the notes.
"..."
She then returned all the files into the hands of the all too nervous soldier.
"Thank you. I've seen all I need to."
The soldier was unsure of how to respond, but just gave a curt nod and disappeared out the flat door with an expression of relief.
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Alyza was 19 years old. In comparison to the most accredited magi within the clock-tower, she was but a toddler. Even so, she had a significantly fair bit of knowledge in her head.
"Clearly they came across a servant."
General David had informed her of the potential duty in aiding their war efforts. Alyza was ready for something like that, but just going through the reports and glancing at the photos, she surmised it would be far from easy.
There was a monster at the border. With enough power to become a second sun in the night sky.
Alyza clucked her tongue as she put on her gloves and tied them by the wrist.
The date was off to. Alyza was officially the last master to summon their servant within those sent by the Association in the faction of The West.
The first summoning was dated to be 3rd August. It was agreed to by both parties to give ample time for material and resource allocation just as much as master selections.
The difference in days didn't appear significant, but they clearly indicated that a servant had been summoned before the agreed week.
"They break the very rules they set... honestly..."
Alyza adjusted the blue-frame spectacles she wore and turned towards the mirror in the bathroom. She looked herself once over before being satisfied and heading out.
With the sun high in the sky, the magus occupying the Kutaisi base walked out of her flat and into the streets.
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Location: Tskhinvali. Time: 10:49AM. Date: 8th August 2008.
Within the split lily. A luxury hotel known to have housed presidents, kings and celebrities. There was a single man enjoying all it had to offer.
He was dressed in a sea-blue bathrobe and dark-shaded aviator sunglasses. No clothes underneath, but a pure athletically built body.
And currently he was seated by the poolside bar with a martini in one hand and a red envelope in the other.
"He really expects the most unreasonable things..."
The man had an air of dominance that seemed to spread all around him. This was something the expressionless woman beside him noted.
Even though his words seemed displeasing, his tone was the very definition of nonchalance. Indifference so grand it was haughty.
Then he turned his striking gaze onto her. Instinctively, her soul shuddered, and she visibly shrunk away.
At this, the man's indifference broke into a smug smirk.
"Do you still fear me, madame Sol?"
"..."
The beautiful woman was dressed in a simple flower-print gown that swept the ground in beautiful swishes. But at that very instant, it was shaking just as much as the woman who adorned it.
How could she not fear him?
Not too many hours ago, he was the very man who had bound her to a bed and dominated her hours on end.
And here he smirked like a mischievous child.
But just as quickly as he smirked, he frowned, for his gaze reverted to the red envelope in his hand.
"Guess they wouldn't let me be for too long."
He stood up and shifted his bathrobe, but not before the woman caught a glimpse of his body underneath. A flash of pink spread across her cheeks and she averted her gaze towards the opposite end of the bar.
"The border. Looks like we got our next target, Rider."
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